Detecting and correcting audio echo

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for detecting and correcting audio echo. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to detect audio that is received through an audio channel of a first user during a conference call being echoed through an audio channel of a second user in the conference call. The code is executable by the processor to identify the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user. The code is executable by the processor to perform a corrective action associated with the second user to prevent audio that is received from the first user from being echoed through the audio channel of the second user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory that stores code executable by the processor to:
 detect audio that is received through an audio channel of a first user during a conference call being echoed through an audio channel of a second user in the conference call, the conference call comprising a plurality of users connected over a data network, wherein detecting the echoed audio comprises detecting phrases received on the audio channel of the first user being repeated through the audio channel of the second user within a predefined period of time after receiving the audio on the audio channel of the first user; 
 identify the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user; and 
 perform a corrective action associated with the second user to prevent audio that is received from the first user from being echoed through the audio channel of the second user. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the code is executable by the processor to determine that audio received on the audio channel of the first user is being echoed through the audio channel of the second user in response to a number of detected repeated phrases satisfying a threshold number. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the code is executable by the processor to compare a transcription of audio received on the audio channel of the first user to a transcription of audio received on the audio channel of the second user to detect that the phrases spoken by the first user are being repeated through the audio channel of the second user. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the echoed audio comprises comparing one or more characteristics of audio received on the audio channel of the first user to one or more characteristics of audio received on the audio channel of the second user in response to receiving audio on the audio channel of the second user within a predefined period of time after receiving audio on the audio channel of the first user. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the compared one or more characteristics of the audio received on the audio channels of the first user and the second user comprises one or more of an audio length and an audio signature. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user comprises cross-referencing historical trend information associated with each of the plurality of users in the conference call with one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of users. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises one or more of a conferencing hardware configuration and a position of each user relative to their conferencing hardware configuration. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user comprises:
 periodically playing a sound on an audio channel for each of the plurality of users, the sound played at a frequency that is outside a range of human hearing; and 
 detecting the sound played back on the audio channel of the second user. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein performing the corrective action comprises automatically muting the audio channel of the second user. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein performing the corrective action comprises, in response to the second user attempting to unmute, warning the second user about previous issues with echoed audio and providing suggestions for preventing echoing audio. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein performing the corrective action comprises notifying one or more other users of the plurality of users that the second user is the user echoing audio in the conference call. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein performing the corrective action comprises providing one or more suggestions to the second user to change their conferencing hardware configuration and/or their position relative to their conferencing hardware. 
     
     
       13. A method, comprising:
 detecting, by a processor, audio that is received through an audio channel of a first user during a conference call being echoed through an audio channel of a second user in the conference call, the conference call comprising a plurality of users connected over a data network, wherein detecting the echoed audio comprises detecting phrases received on the audio channel of the first user being repeated through the audio channel of the second user within a predefined period of time after receiving the audio on the audio channel of the first user; 
 identifying the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user; and 
 performing a corrective action associated with the second user to prevent audio that is received from the first user from being echoed through the audio channel of the second user. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the echoed audio comprises comparing a transcription of audio received on the audio channel of the first user to a transcription of audio received on the audio channel of the second user to detect that the phrases spoken by the first user are being repeated through the audio channel of the second user. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein detecting the echoed audio comprises comparing one or more characteristics of audio received on the audio channel of the first user to one or more characteristics of audio received on the audio channel of the second user in response to receiving audio on the audio channel of the second user within a predefined period of time after receiving audio on the audio channel of the first user. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user comprises cross-referencing historical trend information associated with each of the plurality of users in the conference call with one or more characteristics of each of the plurality of users. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user comprises:
 periodically playing a sound on an audio channel for each of the plurality of users, the sound played at a frequency that is outside a range of human hearing; and 
 detecting the sound played back on the audio channel of the second user. 
 
     
     
       18. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:
 detect audio that is received through an audio channel of a first user during a conference call being echoed through an audio channel of a second user in the conference call, the conference call comprising a plurality of users connected over a data network, wherein detecting the echoed audio comprises detecting phrases received on the audio channel of the first user being repeated through the audio channel of the second user within a predefined period of time after receiving the audio on the audio channel of the first user; 
 identify the second user associated with the audio channel that is echoing the audio of the first user; and 
 perform a corrective action associated with the second user to prevent audio that is received from the first user from being echoed through the audio channel of the second user.